Bicycle head cap unit

Abstract

A bicycle head cap unit is configured and arranged to mount an electrical device or part in a steerer tube of a bicycle fork. The bicycle head cap unit basically has a cap portion and a housing portion. The cap portion is dimension to close a top opening of a steerer tube of a bicycle fork. The housing portion is coupled to the cap portion. The housing portion is configured to form an electrical part receiving space that is located within the steerer tube when the cap portion closes the top opening of the steerer tube of the bicycle fork.

1. A bicycle head cap unit comprising:
 a cap portion having an upper surface, a lower abutment surface and an annular side surface, the cap portion being dimensioned to close a top opening of a steerer tube of a bicycle fork with the lower abutment surface facing axially towards a free edge of the steerer tube; and 
 a housing portion extending axially from the lower abutment surface of the cap portion, the housing portion being configured and dimensioned to form an electrical part receiving space and a bolt bore, the electrical part receiving space being outside the bolt bore, the housing portion being further configured and dimensioned with an outer maximum width that is smaller than an annular steerer tube space being projected from a peripheral edge of the lower abutment surface of the cap portion and surrounding the housing portion, the electrical part receiving space being located within the steerer tube when the cap portion closes the top opening of the steerer tube of the bicycle fork. 
 
   
   
     2. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a fixing portion coupled to at least one of the cap portion and the housing portion, the fixing portion being configured to secure the cap portion within a steerer tube of a bicycle fork. 
 
   
   
     3. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the fixing portion includes a fixing bolt and a fixing nut threadedly coupled thereto. 
   
   
     4. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the fixing nut is disposed adjacent an end of the housing portion that is opposite the cap portion. 
 
   
   
     5. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the fixing nut is disposed between the housing portion and the cap portion. 
   
   
     6. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 at least one of the cap portion and the housing portion includes a tubular part extending through the electrical part receiving space to isolate the fixing bolt disposed in the tubular part from the electrical part receiving space. 
 
   
   
     7. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical part receiving space has a bicycle control unit disposed therein. 
   
   
     8. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical part receiving space has a bicycle battery disposed therein. 
   
   
     9. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the cap portion and the housing portion includes an electrical connector arranged to form an electrical connection within the electrical part receiving space. 
 
   
   
     10. A bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrical part receiving space has an electrical part disposed therein. 
 
   
   
     11. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the electrical part is electrically coupled to an electrical device of a bicycle suspension. 
 
   
   
     12. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the cap portion includes a first electrical connector electrically coupled to the electrical part and the housing portion includes a second electrical connector electrically coupled to the electrical part. 
 
   
   
     13. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the housing portion is molded around the electrical part such that the electrical part receiving space is at least partially defined by the electrical part. 
 
   
   
     14. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the housing portion has an open end with the cap portion fixed to the open end of the housing portion to define the electrical part receiving space. 
 
   
   
     15. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 a fixing portion coupled to at least one of the cap portion and the housing portion, the fixing portion being configured to secure the housing portion within a steerer tube of a bicycle fork. 
 
   
   
     16. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 15 , wherein the fixing portion includes a fixing bolt and a fixing nut threadedly coupled thereto. 
   
   
     17. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 16 , wherein the fixing nut is disposed adjacent an end of the housing portion that is opposite the cap portion. 
   
   
     18. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the fixing nut is disposed between the housing portion and the cap portion. 
 
   
   
     19. A bicycle head cap unit comprising:
 a cap portion having an upper surface, a lower abutment surface and an annular side surface, the cap portion being dimensioned to close a top opening of a steerer tube of a bicycle fork with the lower abutment surface facing axially towards a free edge of the steerer tube; 
 a housing portion extending axially from the lower abutment surface of the cap portion, the housing portion being configured and dimensioned to form an electrical part receiving space, the housing portion being further configured and dimensioned with an outer maximum width that is smaller than an annular steerer tube space being projected from a peripheral edge of the lower abutment surface of the cap portion and surrounding the housing portion, the electrical part receiving space being located within the steerer tube when the cap portion closes the top opening of the steerer tube of the bicycle fork; and 
 a fixing portion coupled to at least one of the cap portion and the housing portion, the fixing portion being configured to secure the cap portion within a steerer tube of a bicycle fork, 
 the cap portion including a first electrical connector and the housing portion including a second electrical connector. 
 
   
   
     20. A bicycle head cap unit comprising:
 a cap portion having an upper surface, a lower abutment surface and an annular side surface, the cap portion being dimensioned to close a top opening of a steerer tube of a bicycle fork with the lower abutment surface facing axially towards a free edge of the steerer tube; and 
 a housing portion extending axially from the lower abutment surface of the cap portion, the housing portion being configured and dimensioned to form an electrical part receiving space, the housing portion being further configured and dimensioned with an outer maximum width that is smaller than an annular steerer tube space being projected from a peripheral edge of the lower abutment surface of the cap portion and surrounding the housing portion, the electrical part receiving space being located within the steerer tube when the cap portion closes the top opening of the steerer tube of the bicycle fork, 
 the cap portion having a top surface with an indicator display thereon. 
 
   
   
     21. A bicycle head cap unit
 a cap portion having an upper surface, a lower abutment surface and an annular side surface, the cap portion being dimensioned to close a ton opening of a steerer tube of a bicycle fork with the lower abutment surface facing axially towards a free edge of the steerer tube; 
 a housing portion extending axially from the lower abutment surface of the cap portion, the housing portion being configured and dimensioned to form an electrical part receiving space, the electrical part receiving space having an electrical part disposed therein. the housing portion being further configured and dimensioned with an outer maximum width that is smaller than an annular steerer tube space being projected from a peripheral edge of the lower abutment surface of the cap portion and surrounding the housing portion, the electrical part receiving space being located within the steerer tube when the cap portion closes the top opening of the steerer tube of the bicycle fork; and 
 a fixing portion coupled to at least one of the cap portion and the housing portion, the fixing portion being configured to secure the housing portion within a steerer tube of a bicycle fork, the fixing portion including a fixing bolt and a fixing nut threadedly coupled thereto, 
 at least one of the cap portion and the housing portion including a tubular part extending through the electrical part receiving space to isolate the fixing bolt disposed in the tubular part from the electrical part receiving space. 
 
   
   
     22. A bicycle head cap unit comprising:
 a housing portion having a first end and a second end with an electrical part receiving space located between the first and second ends; 
 a fixing bolt extending longitudinally through a bolt bore of the housing portion between the first and second ends; and 
 a fixing nut configured to threadedly engage a free end of the fixing bolt to secure the housing portion within a bicycle tube, 
 the electrical part receiving space being outside the bolt bore. 
 
   
   
     23. The bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 22 , further comprising
 a cap portion extending axially from one of the first and second ends of the housing portion. 
 
   
   
     24. A bicycle head cap unit according to  claim 22 , further comprising
 an electrical component disposed within the electrical part receiving space.